Montgomery County Councilmember Roger Berliner, Chair of the Council’s Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee, made the following statement today upon the release of the recommendations of the Maryland Resiliency Through Microgrids Task Force. The task force’s recommendations build upon the proposal by Councilmember Berliner to have the state explore “Utility 2.0,” an electric grid worthy of the 21st Century.

The complete text of Councilmember Berliner’s statement:

“I commend Ms. Abigail Hopper and the recommendations of the Maryland Resiliency Through Microgrids Task Force. Microgrids and clean distributed energy are the future that Montgomery County deserves. Montgomery County deserves a future that is more reliable and sustainable. That is precisely what microgrids and distributed energy can provide.

“I am particularly pleased that the task force recognizes the critical role that local government can play in microgrid development. I also share the task force’s core belief that non-utility players can create innovation and competitive pressures that will benefit the public. I look forward to working with our State Delegation and our County Executive in creating a statutory framework that will allow Montgomery County to assume a leadership role in microgrid development.”